Why Person-Centred?
Person Centred Therapy was developed by American Psychologist, Carl Rogers
(1902-1987).
Person-Centred Theory (PCT) is part of the Humanistic approach to
therapy. It is often described as the ‘third’ force’ in the therapeutic
setting, being an alternative to Psychoanalysis and Behaviourism. The
humanistic view is one that believes in the ability of the individual, that
each person possesses inbuilt resources which can aid personal growth.
Essentially, PCT presents the idea that as humans, we already have all we need
inside of us to heal and grow from personal traumas which we may have faced.
We all may share similar experiences in life, but it is important to realise
that the operative word here is similar; how we experience life events or even
respond to notions of personal trauma, e.g. the death of a loved one and
internally reflect on them is subjective compared to another’s view and the
resulting evidence will be two differing perspectives on a specific
event. Rogers was also of the view that when individuals trust their
inner valuing, it allows them to listen to themselves more effectively enabling
them to really live in the present moment; in doing so they become
psychologically free and are able to work towards becoming what Rogers termed
‘a fully functioning person.’
THE RIGHT CONDITIONS:
- Empathy – the ability to ‘feel with’, an opportunity to employ good active listening skills.
- Unconditional Positive Regard (UPR) the ability to approach a person openly with warmth and positivity.
- Congruence – the ability to be genuine.
By employing the three core conditions, only then will the therapist be able to set out the optimal environment in which to promote psychological healing for their client If performed correctly the client should begin to see changes in their situation as the therapist helps them move through their therapeutic journey and explore issues that they have brought with them into the room. In adopting a Person-centred approach, if we care for our clients well enough, they will leave our care fully restored and functioning.
Evelyn Counselling 